Fracturing trees with horizontally offset connections

{
  "publication_number": "US10385644B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Fracturing trees with horizontally offset connections",
  "abstract": "A fracturing tree having fracturing fluid connections horizontally offset from a wellhead is provided. In one embodiment a system includes a fracturing tree mounted over a wellhead. The fracturing tree includes a valve to control flow of a fracturing fluid from the fracturing tree to the wellhead. The fracturing tree also includes a set of multiple goathead connections that are horizontally offset from the wellhead such that, when the fracturing fluid is received in the fracturing tree via the set of multiple goathead connections during a fracturing operation, the fracturing fluid entering the fracturing tree through the multiple goathead connections is combined at a location horizontally offset from the wellhead and is subsequently routed laterally through a shared bore toward the wellhead. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system comprising: a wellhead; and a fracturing tree mounted over the wellhead, the fracturing tree including a valve to control flow of a fracturing fluid from the fracturing tree to the wellhead, the fracturing tree also including a set of multiple goathead connections that are horizontally offset from the wellhead such that, when the fracturing fluid is received in the fracturing tree via the set of multiple goathead connections during a fracturing operation, the fracturing fluid entering the fracturing tree through the multiple goathead connections is combined at a location horizontally offset from the wellhead after the fracturing fluid has flowed through the multiple goathead connections and is subsequently routed laterally through a shared bore toward the wellhead.",
    "2. The system of claim 1, wherein the valve includes at least one valve positioned along the shared bore.",
    "3. The system of claim 1, wherein the shared bore includes a horizontal bore.",
    "4. The system of claim 3, wherein the valve is positioned along the horizontal bore.",
    "5. The system of claim 3, wherein the shared bore includes a vertical bore that extends downwardly toward the wellhead and is in fluid communication with the horizontal bore.",
    "6. The system of claim 5, comprising an additional valve that is positioned along the vertical bore.",
    "7. The system of claim 6, wherein: the valve is positioned along the horizontal bore; and the valve positioned along the horizontal bore, the additional valve positioned along the vertical bore, and a junction of the horizontal and vertical bores are located together in a single block of metal.",
    "8. The system of claim 1, wherein the valve includes a master valve mounted over the wellhead.",
    "9. The system of claim 1, comprising a brace that supports a portion of the fracturing tree that is horizontally offset from the wellhead.",
    "10. The system of claim 1, wherein the fracturing tree includes a vertical access connection that is vertically aligned with the wellhead.",
    "11. A method comprising: receiving a fracturing fluid into a fracturing tree through multiple goathead connections, wherein the fracturing tree is coupled to a wellhead; combining, after the fracturing fluid has flowed through the multiple goathead connections, the fracturing fluid received through individual goathead connections of the multiple goathead connections at a location that is horizontally offset from the wellhead rather than being directly above the wellhead; and routing the combined fracturing fluid into the wellhead from the location at which the fracturing fluid is combined.",
    "12. The method of claim 11, wherein routing the combined fracturing fluid into the wellhead from the location at which the fracturing fluid is combined includes routing the combined fracturing fluid through a horizontal bore.",
    "13. The method of claim 12, wherein combining the fracturing fluid received through the individual goathead connections of the multiple goathead connections at the location that is horizontally offset from the wellhead rather than being directly above the wellhead includes combining the fracturing fluid received through the individual goathead connections of the multiple goathead connections at a location within the horizontal bore."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present invention, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.\n\nHydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as fracing, is a technique used to enhance and increase recovery of oil and natural gas from subterranean natural reservoirs. More specifically, fracing involves injecting a fracing fluid, e.g., a mixture of mostly water and sand, into an oil or gas well at high pressures. The fracing fluid is injected to increase the downhole pressure of the well to a level above the fracture gradient of the subterranean rock formation in which the well is drilled. The high pressure fracing fluid injection causes the subterranean rock formation to crack. Thereafter, the fracing fluid enters the cracks formed in the rock and causes the cracks to propagate and extend further into the rock formation. In this manner, the porosity and permeability of the subterranean rock formation is increased, thereby allowing oil and natural gas to flow more freely to the well.\n\nA variety of equipment is used in the fracing process. For example, fracing fluid blenders, fracing units having high volume and high pressure pumps, fracing tanks, and so forth may be used in a fracing operation.",
  "cpc": [
    "E21B 33/068",
    "E21B 34/02",
    "E21B 43/26",
    "E21B 43/2607"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E21B 43/26",
    "E21B 33/068",
    "E21B 34/02"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Camron International Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Kirk Paul Guidry",
    "Stefan Marek Radwanski"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-11-12",
  "publication_date": "2019-08-20",
  "grant_date": "2019-08-20",
  "priority_date": "2011-08-05",
  "application_number": "US-201816187002-A",
  "family_id": "47076452",
  "cited_by_count": 12,
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}